Having a large home means a router has a big job to do. Not only to cover the amount of space, but to penetrate through walls, floors, and doors.  Places that are the farthest away from the router can become dead zones as the signal doesn’t reach or constantly disconnects.

Having a powerful router with good coverage, such as those on this list, can eliminate many of these problems. Or you might also have to consider getting a strong mesh router with multiple nodes to seamlessly extend the range of it across a bigger distance.

However, making a decision isn’t as simple as selecting the best wireless router. Instead, you need to look at the specs, coverage, number of antennas, Wi-Fi standards, and more before making a purchase. So, we’ve selected a handful of routers based on their price, features, range, signal strength, and the performance they showcased during our in-house testing.

How we picked

To find the best routers for large homes, we used our expertise to select items based on key specs, such as speeds, coverage, wireless standards, security, and additional features. We’ve also delved into and weighted market sentiment and user views to ensure our selections align with users’ experiences with these products.

However, we don’t rely solely on specifications and reviews that anyone can read. We conduct in-house testing to check their signal strength, speed, and file transfer speed. If you’re interested in learning how we select and review products, our PC Guide Testing Lab has you covered with details about each component, test bench specifications, and more.

Our top picks

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ASUS ROG Rapture GT6 – 1 Pack, White

Hands-on Review

4.5 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

• Standard: WiFi 6
• Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz x2
• Max Speed: 10Gbps
• LAN Ports: 3x 1Gbps

• WAN: 1x 2.5Gbps
• CPU: 1.7GHz tri-core
• Memory: 256MB Flash, 512MB DDR4 RAM
• USB: 1x 3.2Gen A-type
• Dimensions: 172.3 x 78.1 x 176.75 mm
• Weight: 880g

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Reasons to Buy

• It has excellent signal strength and speed
• Its range can be extended with another node
• It has nine internal smart antennas that eliminate dead zones

Reasons to Avoid

• It doesn’t have 6GHz support
• The gamer aesthetics aren’t for everyone
• It is still comparatively expensive for casual users

• Shop on Amazon

For our top pick, we went with the ASUS ROG Rapture GT6 router. This has mesh capabilities, but the one we tested came in a single pack. In our ROG Rapture GT6 review, we tested it for its signal strength and speed and were impressed by the results. 

For starters, this router is powered by a 1.7 GHz tri-core processor and 512 MB of DDR4 RAM. What this means is that it should have enough juice to handle various processing requests and workloads without compromising performance. 

As for its range, it has a coverage area of 5,800 sq. ft, meaning it should be good for medium to large homes. On top of that, since it has mesh functionality, you can add independent nodes to further increase the range as required. 

We tested its signal strength for the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies at 10, 30, 60, and 90 feet. At 60 feet, there was a wall between the phone and router; at 90 feet, there were four walls and two rooms between them. That said, both frequencies were able to connect at all distances, which is surprising because, generally, 5 GHz doesn’t have a good range, but that just speaks to its components and performance. 

A connection also needs to have a good speed, and we checked for its physical and actual speeds. The physical speed is checked without an internet connection, and data packets are sent between the phone and router. 

So, the 2.4 GHz frequency managed 172 to 8 Mbps at 90ft with uploads of 286 to 51 Mbps. On the other hand, the 5 GHz frequency went from download speeds of 1080 Mbps at 10ft to 17 Mbps at 90 ft. Its upload speeds ranged from 1020 to 48 Mbps for the same distances. 

What you can take away from this is that this router has excellent bandwidth and range and should be able to cater to multiple devices throughout your home. However, if the range isn’t sufficient, you can always add nodes to increase the range. 

Lastly, it has a maximum speed of 10Gbps, three 1Gig LAN ports, and one 2.5Gbps WAN port. So, if you have a multi-gigabit internet connection and plenty of Ethernet cable, you can have a wired connection to your preferred device to experience the full capabilities of your internet plan. 

Since this router has Mesh capabilities, it’s easy to add an additional node if you find the signal isn’t quite strong enough in the garage or garden shed.

Router benchmark – LAN internet speeds, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – latency to router @ 2.4GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – LAN read write speeds to SSD plugged into router, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – signal strength @ 5GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – download speed @ 5GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – download speed @ 2.4GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – signal strength @ 2.4GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – physical download speed @ 5GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – physical upload speed @ 2.4GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – physical download speed @ 2.4GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – upload speed @ 2.4GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – latency to router @ 5GHz, source PCGuide

Router benchmark – physical upload speed @ 5GHz, source PCGuide

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Netgear Nighthawk RS700S WiFi 7 (BE19000)

Hands-on Review

4 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

• Standard: WiFi 7
• Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
• Max Speed: 19Gbps
• LAN Ports: 1x 10Gbps, 4x 1Gbps

• WAN: 10Gbps
• CPU: Quad-core 2.6GHz
• Memory: 512MB NAND Flash and 2GB RAM
• USB: 1x USB 3.0 Type-A
• Dimensions: 281.7 x 124.0 x 142mm (11.1 x 4.9 x 5.6in)
• Weight: 1.635kg (3.61lb)

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Reasons to Buy

• It is simple and easy to set up
• Comes with good security measures
• It has 10Gbps WAN and LAN ports
• Covers 3,500 sq. ft.

Reasons to Avoid

• It costs a premium
• Wi-Fi 7 standard isn’t widely supported yet

• Shop on Amazon
• Shop on Scan

For our second pick, we went with the Netgear Nighthawk RS700. Not only does it support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, but during our review, it also performed amazingly. This makes it an excellent option for gaming in a large house, whether wired or wireless. 

This router has a maximum speed of 19 Gbps and tri-band capabilities, meaning you can choose between 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6 GHz. You can dedicate one band to smart home devices and keep the others for work or gaming, reducing network congestion and improving the overall experience. 

This router’s coverage is 3,500 sq. ft., which means it is suitable for medium to slightly larger houses or working spaces. It also has 360° coverage courtesy of its eight internal antennas with high-powered amplifiers. So, you should be able to get a good signal strength across rooms and floors, leading to a smooth working or gaming experience.

We tested for its signal strength at 10, 30, 60, and 90 ft. The 60ft mark is the limit of its 3,500 sq. ft coverage, and the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies managed to reach that easily. However, 2.4 GHz dropped off beyond that, but 5 GHz was still able to connect, albeit not with the best performance. 

As for the performance at these distances, the download speeds achieved with the 2.4 GHz band were 103, 78.4, and 5.6 Mbps at 10, 30, and 60 ft, respectively. 5 GHz delivered 273, 269, 117, and 25.5, which is considerably better than 2.4 GHz. 

The upload speeds saw the same level of difference, with 2.4 GHz having 62, 50, and 22 Mbps, while 5 GHz got 239, 227, 131, and 8 Mbps. So, we can see that its wireless performance is top-notch, and with the Wi-Fi 7 standard, you should be able to comfortably game online with fast speeds and low ping. 

You can also prioritize bandwidth allocation to preferred devices like your laptop, gaming PC, or console via the Nighthawk app. What this means is that you should be getting the most bandwidth as a priority to enhance your in-game or productive experience. 

Overall, given its performance, coverage, and future-proofing functionality, this is one of the best routers for large homes available. You can connect up to 200 devices with it, but this performance comes at a premium, which might not appeal to a lot of people. 

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Netgear Orbi RBKE963B WiFi 6E Mesh Black

Hands-on Review

4.5 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

• Standard: WiFi 6E
• Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz, 2x 5GHz, 6GHz
• Max Speed: 10.8Gbps
• LAN Ports: 1x 2.5Gbps, 3x 1Gbps (Router & Satellites)

• WAN: 1x 10Gbps (Router)
• CPU: Quad-Core 2.2GHz (Router & Satellites)
• Memory: 512MB NAND Flash and 1GB RAM (Router & Satellites)
• USB: None
• Dimensions: 279.4 x 190.5 x 76.2mm (11 x 7.5 x 3in)
• Weight: 1.36kg (3.0lbs)

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Reasons to Buy

• It has a coverage of 9,000 sq. ft
• It can support up to 200 devices simultaneously
• It has a streaming speed of up to 10.8 Gbps

Reasons to Avoid

• It is overly expensive
• Many features are locked behind a paywall
• Additional nodes cost $599.99

• Shop on Amazon
• Shop on Amazon (White)

For maximum coverage, we selected the Netgear Orbi RBKE963B mesh router. During our in-house testing for our Orbi RBKE963B review, we noticed that it showcased excellent signal strength and speed. 

This router comes in a pack of three: one router and two satellites, with each device having a range of 3,000 sq. ft. What this means is that you’ll be able to cover 9,000 sq. ft. with this router – enough for even the largest of houses.  

It supports the Wi-Fi 6 standard and has quad-band functionality (2.4, 2 x 5, and 6 GHz). This means you can use your Wi-Fi 6E-compatible devices and have a dedicated 5 GHz frequency for smart home electronics while using the remaining three for personal use. 

When it comes to setting up the router and satellites, the mobile application streamlines the process, but you do have to sign up or log in to do that. However, upon doing so, the free trial of Netgear Armor automatically starts, providing another layer of security. 

It also gives you the option to create guest, IoT, home, and Wi-Fi 6E networks for different use cases, which is a neat accessibility feature. On top of that, it has a maximum speed of 10.8 Gbps, so it is more than capable of handling high-speed internet connections.

That said, the router has one 10Gig WAN port, one 2.5Gig, and three 1 Gbps LAN ports. The satellites lack the WAN ports, but otherwise have the same connectivity options. If required, you can have a direct wired connection via satellites in various rooms in your home or working space.

As for its signal strength and speed, 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies were able to connect to the 90ft mark. However, when we checked for its actual speed, 2.4 GHz failed to connect at 90ft but managed 65.3 to 35.5 Mbps download and 67.9 to 6.2 Mbps upload speeds. As for 5 GHz, it managed 197 to 57 Mbps download and 227 to 83.9 Mbps upload speeds at 60 ft. 

This is one of the best mesh routers available for a large home. It does cost a small fortune, but also comes chock full of features. If necessary, you can purchase independent nodes from its Netgear product page, which will set you back $599.99 each, which is a fair amount of money. Whether that is worth it will depend entirely on your use case.

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TP-Link Archer AX12 (AX1500)

Hands-on Review

4 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

• Standard: Wi-Fi 6
• Frequency band: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
• Max speed: 1500Mbps
• LAN ports: 3x 1Gbps

• WAN: 1x 1Gbps
• CPU: 1.8GHz quad-core
• Memory:
• USB: N/A
• Dimensions: 215x117x32mm (8.5×4.6×1.3in)
• Weight:

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Reasons to Buy

• Fairly inexpensive and a usable WiFi standard
• Quick and simple to set up with little waste inside
• Great parental controls and guest network availability

Reasons to Avoid

• No high-speed LAN ports for fast interconnectivity
• Light and lacking some range performance

• Shop on Amazon
• Shop on Amazon UK
• Shop on Newegg

If you want coverage without breaking the bank, check out the TP-Link Archer AX12. This is a pocket-friendly router with WiFi 6 standard, meaning you won’t get the 6GHz band. However, it does boast good performance, as we saw during our in-house testing for the Archer AX12 review.

This router features an 18GHz quad-core CPU and has a maximum speed of 1500 Mbps. On top of that, it has three 1Gbps and one 1Gbps WAN port, meaning you should be able to easily connect multiple devices via Ethernet and get the most out of your internet. If you have plenty of wired devices, you’ll need to ensure your internet plan can cater to them, as the more devices you connect, the more the bandwidth will be divided, which can result in performance degradation.

As for wireless connectivity options, you get the 2.4 and 5GHz frequencies, which should be enough for gaming, streaming, or working. I got this router a couple of months back, and I have my PC connected via Ethernet and use other devices with the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. I haven’t experienced any lag, stuttering, or buffering issues while streaming, gaming, or working, and I have a 25 Mbps internet connection shared between 8-10 devices.

This router has helpful features such as parental controls and port forwarding, which you can use to limit the internet, create different profiles, and more. You can also expand your network with the AX12 router, as it supports mesh networking, meaning it can be used as a node with other TP-Link devices.

We checked its range and speed at different distances. Both frequencies couldn’t connect to the 90-ft mark but had a good connection at 60 feet with a wall between the device and the router. According to TP-Link, this router is good for 2-3 bedroom houses or approximately 3,500 sq. ft. of coverage, as the 60ft mark is at the edge of that.

The 2.4GHz band had a download speed of 22.1 – 4 Mbps and upload speeds of 33.8 – 0.81 Mbps. As for the 5GHz band, the download speed was 63 Mbps, while the upload speeds ranged from 237 to 102 Mbps. With this speed and coverage, it should be suitable for most big houses.

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NETGEAR Orbi 770 WiFi 7 – 3-pack

Hands-on Review

4 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

• Standard: WiFi 7
• Frequency Bands: 6GHz, 5GHz, 2.4GHz
• Max Speed: 11Gbps
• LAN Ports: 3x 2.5Gbps (Router), 2x 2.5Gbps (Satellites)

• WAN: 1x 2.5Gbps (Router)
• CPU: Quad-core 1.5GHz processor
• Memory: 4GB flash and 2GB RAM
• USB: N/A
• Dimensions: 251.2 x 134.2 x 100.4mm (9.88 x 5.28 x 3.95 in) each
• Weight: 0.916 kg (2.02 lb) each

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Reasons to Buy

• Easy to set up and use including connecting to mesh
• Strong performance across the board
• Fast 2.5Gbps RJ45 ports for connecting satellites or other devices

Reasons to Avoid

• The expensive cost is above the competition and still locks important features behind a paywall
• Only comes with 30 day Armor trial
• Limited LAN connections and no USB

• Shop on Amazon
• Shop on Amazon UK

One of the newer options we’ve reviewed and tested, and suitable for the job, is the Netgear Orbi 770. The router offers WiFi 7 across a 3-pack to extend the range of its coverage with a claimed total of 6,750 square feet. Bunching them up means eliminating any dark spots across a large home.

Powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 4GB of flash storage, and 2GB of memory, it has a good ability to keep the data flowing. With a variety of bundle options to pick from, depending on how big an area you actually want to cover.

In our tests, it managed to achieve a range of up to 90 ft on 2.4GHz and 60ft at 5GHz both with obstacles, just from the one router. In the former case, it had a signal strength of -46 to -75dBm, and the latter got -46 to -75dBm.

In those cases, the download speed at 2.4GHz was around 50-15Mbps, and although it did technically connect at 90ft, it barely got any speed. While the upload speed for that connection ranged from 62 to 18Mbps, it had a latency of 13 to 30ms.

At 5GHz, it got download speeds of 206 to 198Mbps, and uploads of 264 to 110 Mbps, along with a latency of 12 to 17ms. As for on Lan, the download and upload speeds were 280 and 285 Mbps, respectively.

There is also 6GHz to take advantage of it if you have the hardware that supports it, and less traffic on that spectrum for the fastest speeds. Plus, there are also Ethernet ports to take advantage of on both the main router and the satellites, with 2.5Gbps options on them.

Netgear Orbi 770 PHY Download 5GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Upload Speed 5GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Signal Strength 5GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Signal Strength 2.4GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 LAN Speeds, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Download Speed 5GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Download Speed 2.4GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Upload 2.4GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Latency 2.4GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 Latency 5GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 PHY Download 2.4GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 PHY Upload 5GHz, Image by PC Guide

Netgear Orbi 770 PHY Upload 2.4GHz, Image by PC Guide

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How to pick the best WiFi router for large houses

There are a handful of factors that need to be considered while choosing a router for a large house. There are plenty of options available, but instead of spending top dollar on the fanciest, here are some considerations that should help you make an informed decision. 

Coverage

This is the most important factor to consider when selecting a router for a large house. Make sure to opt for a router that features a range of around 2,500 sqft if you live in a three-bedroom house. For a house with four to five bedrooms, go for the one with 3,000 to 3,500 sqft coverage. But for a house with multiple floors, you’d want to get a mesh router instead.

WiFi standard

WiFi 6, 6E, and 7 are the latest WiFi standards, so make sure to go for a router that features them. WiFi 7 has an extremely high throughput of 46 Gbps, but since it’s newer than the other standards, there likely aren’t many devices compatible. 

That said, going for routers with WiFi 6 and 6E wouldn’t set you back, as they are more than capable of handling gigabit and multi-gigabit speeds. If you want to explore options with these two standards, check out our top picks for the best WiFi 6 routers and WiFi 6E routers.

Dual or tri-band

Opt for routers that offer dual or tri-band support. Tri-band routers can be beneficial for large houses as they dedicate one band for communication between the router and devices and two bands for data traffic, which ends up reducing congestion. Some routers also offer the 6GHz band, which reduces the load from the other two bands to improve the WiFi speed.

Number of antennas

Go for a router that comes with multiple antennas, as these provide better coverage. Routers with external, adjustable antennas can help direct the signal to specific areas of your home. Also, some routers come with beamforming technology, allowing you to direct the signals in any direction you want instead of throwing them in all directions.

Investing in a router with this technology can help you eliminate dead zones, particularly if the signals fail to reach or keep disconnecting while you’re working or gaming. 

Additional features

These days, most of the routers in the market come with additional features such as QoS, parental controls, weekly/monthly reports, and much more. On top of that, they also have dedicated applications that make it easier for you to access these features. So, before making a final purchase, ensure the router you’re getting offers these.

How do I get WiFi all over a big house?

If you want the WiFi signals to reach every corner of your house, we suggest you get a mesh system. A mesh system comes with a central router and a few extenders placed at different spots in the house. They work together to establish a single network and eliminate dead zones inside the house.

Does buying a better router increase range?

Of course, getting a better router increases the range. Some premium routers come with around eight high-performance antennas with beamforming technology, offering a range of up to 3,500 sqft. This coverage should be enough for a house with four to five bedrooms. Finding ones with more antennae generally show better range, but the specs should inform you of how far it can reach.

What’s the best router for a large house?

In our selection, we’ve gone with the ASUS ROG Rapture GT6. A strong router that can be part of a mesh system to reach a large house. That goes for the NETGEAR Orbi 770 WiFi 7, too, which brings the latest generation of connectivity, too. While for speed and gaming, the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S WiFi 7 (BE19000) is a good option too.

About the Author

Sebastian Kozlowski

With a fascination for technology and games, Seb is a tech writer with a focus on hardware, news, and deals. He is also a tester and reviewer for the site. Contact him @ [email protected]